Marking gauge



Dec 18, 1951 H. R. RIPPON 2,579,205

MARKING GAUGE AFiled oct. 29, 1949 hARoLD R, R/PPON the bar adjacent oneend thereof. gages having square bars, the marking point `usuallyextends through the bar with the marking' point'parallel to and spacedmidway between Y-ingfiat surfaces of the opening in block. AIt isanother object of the present invention Patented Dec. 18, 1951 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Harold R. Rippen, East Lynn, Mass., assignor to TheStanley Works, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of ConnecticutApplication October 29, 1949, Serial No. 124,321

This invention relates to improvements in a marking gage such as used inwoodworking for purposes of marking a line on a piece of wood parallelto one edge thereof.

Marking gages in present use are of several types having either squareor cylindrical bars which extend transversely through an openingprovided in the gage block or slide of the marking gage.Y The bargenerally slides quite freely through the opening in the gage block and,when the locking screw of the gage block is operated to clamp the blockto the bar, the play normally present between the surfaces of the barand the Awallsof the opening in the block frequently will permit slightmovement of the block relative to the bar.

Further, the marking gages now in use have a marking point extendingtransversely through In marking two opposed sides of the bar. Thus, whena .marking gagev having either a cylindrical or square bar is used, theoperating tip of the markr ing point is usually invisible sinceV itprojects from vthe surface of the bar which is sliding along andVnearest to the work surface.r 'bar only affords a line contact with thework surface and a square bar with the tip of the mark- Also, acylindrical ing point projecting through one of the flat surfaces midwayof the edges thereof generally projects beyond the under surface of thebar to such 4an extent that said Yunder surface is usually not inengagement with the working surface due to the marking point holdingsaid surface out of engagement with the work. Thus, firm slidingengagement between such bars and the `work Asurface is not possible.

'at surfaces of the bar, and the locking screw of the lgage block sodisposed therein that when it is'tightened toclamp the gage blockrelative to the bar,'which at surfaces of the bar will be wedged into'firm engagement with the adjointhe gage 3 Claims. (Cl. 33-42) toprovide a marking gage having a bar provided with two adjoining flatsurfaces disposed at an angle to each other, said flat surfaces beingselectively slidable against the work surface in parallel relationshipthereto, and the marking point of the gage extending through said bartransversely to the axis thereof and substantially bisecting the anglebetween said fiat surfaces, whereby the tip of the marking point isclearly visible at all times during use regardless of which of the twofiat surfaces isbeing slidably moved against the work surface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a marking gagehaving two adjoining flat surfaces disposed at an-'angle to each other,said bar having a slot extending longitudinally thereof andsubstantially bisecting the angle between said two fiat surfaces, andfurther providing a marking point adjustably mounted between the wallsof said slot and clamping'means operable to clamp the sides of the slotagainst the marking point so as to hold the tip'of the marking point indifferent positions of projection beyond the adjoining edges of the twoat sides of the bar.

Details of these projections and of the invention, as well as otherobjects thereof, are 4set forth in the accompanying specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawing comprising a part thereof.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a View of one end of said gage illustrated on a larger scalethan that used in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the marking gage on the same scale as Fig.2, said section being taken along the axis of the clamping screw of thegage. f

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the marking gage shown in Fig.1 but illustrated on the same scale as in Figs. 2 and 3. y

Referring to the drawings, the marking gag I 0 comprises a stock or barI2 which is shown in the exemplary illustration herein as being somewhatsquare in cross section. Two adjoining fiatsurfaces I4 and I6 aredisposed at an angle thereto which isV illustrated herein as beingapproximately but it is to be understood that said surfaces may bedisposed at other angles than 90 within the spirit of the presentinvention. The corner of the bar opposite the corner defined by.surfaces I4 and I6 has been flattened throughout its length to provide aclamp engaging surface I8 which, istransyerseto a plane marking gagehole 24 includes two adjoining flat walls 28 and? 30 which are disposedat an angle to eachother, said angle being the same as that between flatsurfaces I4 and I6 of the bar 12:.. 'The other ylwalls. defining theopening 24 are"spacedcsufficiently;

from the flat walls 28 and 30 to permit the bar I2 to slide freelywithin thefopeningfu.

Threaded into the gage block 22 is a locking thumb screw 32 havingafinger engaging-`head ^34` lat its outer end. The axis of the screw isdis- Aposed 'in the plane bisecting the :'anglefbetweenithe 'atwall's28y andi .BII-Ofilslriev 'opening24. 'Extend- -ingthrough theopeningf241 so as t'obe Aenga-ged byf the inner end ofv the-screvvx32,v andslidable relative-tol the clampengaging surface I B'of the bar I2 lis-aY shoe-35Vv having "upstanding members `3"' atE either endLVvvl'iichrare engageable Withfthe faces-'2B ofi the'` gage-block 22!for purposes of preventing Aremoval-of 'the shoeffromv the gage block 22:during normaluse thereof;V vWherrthe =locking screwv 32 is tightened;it'. willi` move the shoe 36 into engagement-with the surface Vi3 of`the barr |21 and'force'the-flat` walls-128: and `3C! of the opening 24"inthe gage block firmly into Wedgingengagement vwith `the `'llat surfaces I 4l* and iagai'nstlthe vsid'eiof a worklpiece' whichfis beingmarked by'the gage. I

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a rugged anddurable marking gage so constructed that the tip of the marking pointwill'be visible at all times during use While permittingethe portionA ofthe fiat surface I or I6 -of thebarof' thermarking gage between themarkingp'ointfand gage-block to be in full sliding engagiementwiththefwork surface being marked,

VL'Il1of' the bar I2'. When so clamped inv/edging relationship, nomovement or` wobble Yis possible between'v tliegage block and' bar undernormal foperatinglconditions andlthefaces 2Bof'the1'gage 'block 22willbe heldi'mlyinaccurate transverse position relative to Ither axisoff the bar I2.

One end: of Vthebar I2 is provided-'with a slot v3l?.A which extendslongitudinally `inward from one end thereof as=clearlyfshown1iniFig. 4'.Said slot bisects the angle between the adjoining at surfaces'llliand I6`of the'bararrd receivesal marking point 40 which extendsy transverselyto the `axis of the bar I2` and the-sharpened'V marking tip' 42 offthemarking point-llll i`s projected-@beyond the adjoining edges of the flatsurfaces I4'l and i6 of the bar. When so extended, assclearly shown inFig. 2, the tip 42; will 'be clearly visible while either one of theflat surfaces I4 orf IG-of the bar I2 is slidably moved' against theIwork' surface 44, illustrated intdotand dash line `in Fig. 2. V'Ilhe tip42'i's preferably projectedzfbeyond vthe bar? I2 only-a suiiicientdistance to form` a desired depth 'of marking'line in the'work surface4`4'and, when the bar I2 is moved along said work surface, the fiatsurface thereof which is inslidingengagement'with the worksurf'ace willbe fullyin engagement therewith and thus provide a very steady controloff the-gagewliile'being-operated, regardless of which of the flatfsurf'aces I4Y or `I6 i's against the v-work surface '44;

A clamping'4 screw V46 extends" through the bar I2 and slot 3'8 adjacentthe markingfpoint 4@ and transversely throughf the plane of the-'slot38. Saidl screw, when tightened, will serve to firmly vclamp thesurfaces of the'slo't' 38fagai'ns't'the sides ofthe marking pointlltolhold' the 'tip 42 thereof in any desired degree of projectionfrom'theislo't relative to the adjoining edges ofthenat' surfaces VI4 and I6ofthe bar I2l.

TheV opposite end; l'of Vthe -bar I2i is preferably thus providing verysteady control of the marking gage during use. Further, the formation ofthe flat surfaces I4 and I6 of the bar and the several adjoining wallsof'the opening inthe gageblock are such that when :thellocking screwis'tiglitened, said surfaces willsbe wedged into `firm ,engagement witheach other to. prevent-'wobble or shifting movement ofathegageblockxrelative to the bar. Also,.said'improvements are made possibleWithout` increasing 4.the cost Iof-.manufacture of :the gage over thecost of'present marking gages.

Whilev the invention has beenf illustrated and described in-itspreferred embodimentA and has included certain details, :it shouldbe'understood that the invention is notto belirnited to the precise`details'herein illustrated and described since the same'may be carriedout in other waysfall ing within the scope of the invention as'claimed.

I claim as my invention:

'1'. A marking gage comprising in combination, a single bar having twovadjoining flatv gaging `surfaces extending therealong at'anzanglegtoeach other, said surfaces being, slidable 'selectively against a worksurfacein yparallel relationship thereto, a gage block `having anopening trans.- versely therethrough Vslidaloly receiving-'said bar andincluding twor adjoining angularly related walls :complementary ytosaid' gaging surfaces of said bar, a locking screw carried by said gageblock and arranged toengage said bar oppositely of the apex of the anglebetween said gaging surfaces to Wedge-said ybar against said gage blockwithin the transverse vopening when said "locking screw is tightened,and a marking point carriedby said bar adjacent one end thereof Aandextending transversely to the axis of said bar,

stantially bisecting the angle between said flat gaging surfaces, saidflat surfaces being slidable selectively against a work surface-inparallel relationship thereto, a gage blockl having an opening`transversely therethrough slidably receiving `said bar andincluding'two adjoining angularly'related walls complementary toA saidgaging' surfaces of saidfbar, a locking screw carried by said gage blockarranged to engage said bar' oppositely of the apexv ofthezanglebetweensaid gaging surfaces to wedge said bar against said gage block withinthe transverse opening when said locking screw is tightened, a markingpoint disposed within said slot and extending transversely to the axisof said bar, the tip of said marking point being arranged to beprojected any desired distance beyond the adjoining edges of said gagingsurfaces of said bar, and a clamping screw extending through said barand slot adjacent and transversely to the axis of said marking point,said screw being operable to clamp the walls of said slot against saidmarking point to maintain a desired adjusted position thereof relativeto said bar whereby said tip of said marking point may be projected tobe clearly visiblev while marking a work piece to the desiredJ depthwith either of said gaging surfaces in surfaceto-surface contact withthe work piece.

3. A marking gage comprising in combination a bar of pentagonal crosssection having two angularly related flat gaging surfaces extendingtherealong and having at one end a longitudinal slot substantiallybisecting the angle between said gaging surfaces, a gage block having atransverse pentagonal opening therethrough slidably receiving said bar,a locking screw carried by said gage block arranged to engage said baroppositely of the apex of the angle between said gaging surfaces towedge said gaging surfaces against said gage block within the transverseopening when said locking screw is tightened, and a marking pointadjustably disposed within said slot transversely of the axis of thebar, the tip of said marking point being arranged to be projected so asto mark a work piece to the desired depth with either of said gagingsurfaces in surface-to-surface contact with the work piece.

HAROLD R. RIPPON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

